Improvement in fluid-meters



UNITED' STATES HENRY A DESPER, OF VVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUID-METERS.

Spcciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,747, dated Novembf r 1S, 1873; application filed September 13, 1873. i'

To all whom 'it may concern: I

l State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fluid-Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 ofthe drawings is a representation of a horizontal section of my fluid-meter. Fi g. 2 isavertical transverse section of same. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are details of same. I

The object ot this invention is to employ four` cylinders, which radiate from a common center, and in which four pistons reciprocate,`that are connected together in pairs, and arranged in the same plane, also, to connect the two right-angular piston-rods of the four pistons directly to a rotatinginlet and outlet valve by means of a crank, the wrist-pin of which plays in slots made transversely across the connecting-rods. i

The body of the meter consists of four cylinders, A1 A2 A3 A4, which radiate from a common center, and form `four right angles. s These cylinders are all in the same plane, and through the center of each one of the heads an adjustingscrew, k, is tapped, as shown in Figs. l

`and `2. Inside of the cylinder A1 is fitted a piston, B1, which is connected, by means of a broad open rod, C, to a piston,.B3, working inside of the cylinder A3; and inside of the cylinder A? is fitted a piston, B2, which is ,con-

nected, by a corresponding rod, C, to a piston,

B, workin g inside of the cylinder A4. `It will thus be seen that there arefour pistons, which are connected together in pairs by two rods arranged at right angles to each other. The

axes ofthe pistons are all in the same plane, and the piston-rods C C are halved together,

. so that they cross each other above and below said plane without interference. Thisis represented in Fig. 2, and the construction ofthe rods is more clearly represented by Fig. 4, wherein it will be seen that one longitudinal half of each rod is cut away. The connectingrods have slots s made transversely through them at` the middle of their length, through which slots passes freely the wrist-pin H of a crank, F. This crank F is keyed on the upper solid stem d of a cylindrical valve, D, and when the meter is in operation the alternate reciprocatin g movement given the pistons will cause the transverse slot-s s through the connectingrods G C to communicate directly a regular rotary motion to the valve D. A corresponding rotary motion is also communicated to a stem, I, which passes' water-tight through a cap, N, and whose axis otmotion is concentric to the axis of the valve D, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the stemI has a crank, I', on it, through the end of which the wrist-pin H passes; consequently the rotary motion colnmunicated to the stem I is received directly from the connecting-rods Q C. `The stem I is packed at m, and is held up to its seat by means of a spring, d, which is applied in a recess made into the cap N. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The stem I has a spur-wheel, e, keyed on its upper end, which actuates a train of wheels that move the registering hand or hands. The

registering mechanism may be constructed in any well-known manner. `Thevalve D is cylindrical, and is located at the bottom of the cyl` cates with the water-ways which lead into and from the cylinders, and receives the supply of water from a nozzle, L, through a hollow stem, a. The valve Dis held down in its place upon the walls of the inlet-nozzle passage L by Y means of the cap G, through whiclrfthe solid stem d ofY the valve passes, as shown in Fig. 2.

`The water enters throughthe nozzle L, and passes up through the center ofm the valve at a on one side of the partition therein; thence out through the slot t', through the water-way El, and into the outer end of the cylinder` A1,

thereby driving the piston B3 andthe opposite piston B3 toward the outer end of the cylinder A3, and forcing water out of? this cylinder through passage E3 intotheoppositeside of valve D, and thence out of the `nozzle O ATEN'r OFFICE.

Y through passages i and c. The drawing represents the pistons B3 and B4 as having just completed their stroke in the direction of the cylinder A2; consequently the valve is closed for these two cylinders, but the other two pis ton's B1 B2 are on their lialfstroke, and are operating the valve D in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 5, so as to supply Water to the passage F12-at the same time opening the discharge from the passage E4, and thereby reversing the motions of the pistons B3 and B4.

By a continued repetition of the movements of thepistons, as above described, the connecting-rods revolve the valve D, which supplies water successively to the four Water-ways, and discharges it therefrom. The set-screws k through the cylinder-heads, as above referred to, aii'ord adjustable abutments for stopping the pistons at the outer terminations of their strokes at such points as will allow them to discharge the proper amount of Water.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination and arrangement of the four cylindersY A1 A2 A3 A4, the pistons B1 B2 B3 B4, and the rotary cylindrical valve D, pro vided With communicating slots 'L' fi and passages a c, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. g

2. lhe connecting-rods C C', slotted and halved together, as described, in combination With four pistons, whose axes are all in the same plane, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two Witnesses.

'i 'i HENRY A. DESPEB..

Witnesses W. E. Dnsrnn, DAVID W. POND. 

